Presenting vivid pictures of Gautama Buddhas life, teaching, suffering, death and subsequent nirvana, the Mahaparinibbanasutta is one of the principal Buddhist texts. In Hermann Beckhs words, it describes one of the greatest human beings that ever lived, who stood at the threshold of the super-human a teacher and leader of humanity. --- Prof. Beckhs translation of this important sutta achieved a quality and faithfulness that was based on decades of extensive study and meditation. From his academic and spiritual knowledge, Beckh added insightful editorial material, including an introduction, commentary and notes. The English rendering here, by Indologist and long-standing Buddhist practitioner Dr Katrin Binder, is based on both the original Pali and Beckhs German translation. An afterword by Thomas Meyer, informed by Rudolf Steiners research, traces the development of Buddhas individuality in the afterlife. --- Departure of the Perfected One brings to a conclusion the publication of Beckhs great triad of works on the subject of Buddha, including Buddhas Life and Teaching and From Buddha to Christ. Through a contemporary reading, these books open up vast new perspectives on the world of sacred Buddhist scriptures to anyone interested in spiritual development.